Sanitary impregnated skin wiper



United States Patent 3 264,188 SANITARY IMPREGNATED SKlN WIPER James T. Gresham, Appleton, Wis, assignor to Kimberly- Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Jan. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 251,758 2 Claims. (Cl. 16784) This invention relates to a sanitary impregnated skin wiper. More specifically it relates to an impregnated tissue of improved softness especially designed for proctological use or for use by persons suffering from anorectal disorders.

A substantial portion of the adult population suffer from anorectal or perianal disorders in varying stages of severity. While such disorders can be corrected by proper medical treatment, recurrence is frequent unless the patient himself practices careful cleansing habits after defecation.

In the absence of satisfactory cleansing materials, the common practice is to recommend the use of watermoistened, soft toilet tissue or cotton pads to cleanse the affected area. Conventional bathroom tissue, even of the very soft two-ply facial grade now on the market, is not entirely satisfactory for such use without preliminary wetting, because its high absorbency tends to produce excessive dehydration of the skin and aggravate rather than ameliorate the condition. The prernoistening requirement, therefore, is essential to proper cleansing when conventional tissues are used. However, in many situations, such premoistening cannot conveniently be done.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an impregnated skin wiper having sufficient absorbency to perform an antiseptic cleansing function while minimizing the dehydrating effect of ordinary untreated tissues.

Another object is to provide a skin wiper of improved softness which leaves a light film of dermatologically nonirritating emollient agent on the wiped area.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description and appended claims.

Pure pharmaceutical grade mineral oil has a beneficial emollient effect on the skin as evidenced by its use as the principal ingredient in baby oils, cold creams, many pharmaceuticals, and medicinal preparations. Unsuccessful attempts have been made in the past to impregnate toilet tissue with mineral oils in the expectation that such treated tissue would be useful for the abovedescribed purposes, and would not draw out the natural oils and fats from the skin. However, it Was found that while the oil treatment had a softening effect on the tissue, it tended to destroy absorptive qualities so that the tissues did not satisfactorily pick up fecal matter in normal use and perform the necessary cleansing action. When only small amounts of oil were used in the tissue in an attempt to retain some absorbency, no oil was transferred to the skin and the expected emollient action was absent. Apparently the oil in small amounts is more substantive to the fibers in the sheet than to the contacted skin, thus preventing transfer. Further, when the amount of oil in the tissue was increased to a point where transfer of some oil to the skin from the impregnated paper is accomplished, the tissues ability to clean was markedly impaired.

In general, it has been demonstrated that if less than approximately 13 percent by Weight of oil is used, i.e. 87% fiber, none will be given up by the Wiping action, while absorbency is' essentially destroyed. When the amount of oil is increased to 2535% by weight, i.e. 65- 75% fiber, the tissue still appears substantially non-oily to the touch but a light film of oil is left on the wiped area as desired. However, as might be expected in the latter case, the tissue is still essentially non-absorbent and While a desirable emollient effect is achieved, there is not an ade quate cleansing action and one of the prime objects for employing oil-impregnated tissue is defeated.

It has been found that the latter disadvantage may be overcome by incorporating in the oil before impregnation, a small quantity of a non-toxic and non-allergenic emulsifying agent. When such an emulsifying agent is incorporated into the oil in an amount from 2 to 10% of the oil, and a tissue impregnated with the mixture in an amount sufficient to leave a light oil film on the skin, the tissue then performs its desired cleansing function. Apparently, the moisture normally present in the fecal matter and in the skin itself is sufficient to activate the emulsifying agent and restore some of the lost absorbency in the tissue to enable it to absorb and hold the fecal matter while still permitting transfer of small amounts of oil to the skin. No preliminary wetting of the tissue is required.

Another advantage arising from the use of an emulsifier is that it permits water to be absorbed in the tissue when it is disposed of in the toilet so that discarded tissues will disintegrate readily when flushed away. Disposal tests of tissues, thus treated, show no problem of disintegration or decomposition in either domestic septic tanks or conventional sewage disposal systems.

Various emulsifiers appear to restore the absorbent function to oil-treated tissue. However, for the purpose of this invention it is necessary that the emulsifier be one which is non-toxic or non-allergenic. The preferred emulsifier is triethanolamine oleate. Other non-toxic emulsifiers which may be used include other similar fatty acid soaps of organic bases or organic soaps of amino-substituted compounds, such as triisopropanol amine laurate, monoethyl amine stearate, diethanol amine palmitate, and the like.

The mineral oil also should be substantially free of potentially noxious material and is preferably a low viscosity, high purity, white, pharmaceutical grade, normally used in the preparation of cosmetics and medicinals.

Compatible bacteriostatic or antiseptic agents may also be used in the tissue-impregnating medium, as may local topical anaesthetics either of a prescription or non-prescription type. A preferred bacteriostatic agent is benzalkonium chloride. Other suitable agents are bithionol; 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanalide; and hexachlorophene. Such agents are effective when applied in amounts ranging from 0.25 to 2.0% of the weight of the oil.

Oil-impregnated tissues containing each of these antiseptic-bacteriostatic agents Were tested for growth inhibitive action using standard agar plate techniques. Results indicated that the thus treated tissue had good activity against gram positive organisms and some activity against gram negative E. coli. This is a favorable reaction since a large proportion of bacteria formed on the human skin are in the gram positive class.

It was believed at first that the base tissue must also have high wet and dry strength characteristics in order to be strong enough for use after oil impregnation. However, when such high strength tissues were employed for the purpose described, it Was found that most of them retained relatively harsh properties and while they did absorb fecal matter and leave an oily film on the skin, they were slightly abrasive and tended to irritate the wiped area thus defeating one of the purposes of the tissue. Surprisingly, it was found that a soft facial grade of tissue, without extensive wet or dry strength treatment, retained sufiicient strength after impregnation to be suitable. Creped sheets having a basis weight within the range of 14 to 22 lbs. per ream for double ply wipers, and Within the range of 7 to 11 lbs. per ream. for single ply wipers are especially suitable. Generally, creped sheets made with not more than 30% by weight of ground wood 3 pulp and from 70 to 100% by weight of chemical pulp such as sulfite and sulfate give especially good results.

In addition, it was found that the oil treatment made the originally soft sheet much softer than before treatment, thus making it substantially non-irritating even after extensive use. The oil in the preferred amount apparently plasticizes the fibers as well as interposing itself in the interstices of the lightweight sheet to provide lubricity, thus enhancing limpness and softness characteristics.

The following are several specific examples of preferred embodiments of the invention. A two-ply facial grade creped tissues having a total basis weight of between 14 to 22 pounds per 24 x 36 480 sheet ream were impregnated in an amount of about 35% by weight with a high purity low viscosity white mineral oil containing 5% by weight of an emulsifier, in this case triethanolamine oleate. The impregnating agent was applied to one side of the two-ply tissue by pressing the tissue against a rotating transfer roll of the intaglio type. The transfer roll had a random pattern of shallow pits or hollows in its surface and was rotated in a pool of oil formed by the roll surface and a spring bronze trailing doctor blade. In this way the bronze blade removed the excess oil before the applicator roll contacted the tissue. The amount of impregnant applied was automatically controlled by the depth and spacing of the intaglio pattern. The impregnated tissue Was Wound in rolls, thus allowing the pattern of oil to spread uniformly throughout the sheet. As a further process refinement, the tissue may also be sheeted and carton packed immediately after impregnation.

A portion of the impregnated tissue was perforated to form interconnected sheets, interfolded and packaged in a dispensing carton treated with an oil-resistant material to prevent staining of the carton or bleeding of oil from the tissue into the carton. Another portion of the impregnated tissue was slit and perforated and formed into rolls of toilet tissue which would fit a standard toilet tissue dispenser. The rolls were wrapped in oil-resistant paper to provide a non-staining package. While the mineral oil is not evanescent and will normally be retained in the sheet without protective wrapping, oil resistant wrappers are desirable to present a neat package for marketing.

The impregnated tissue was preliminarily tested by wiping against the skin and found to leave a barely discernible film of oil on the wiped area. Extensive clinical tests were also conducted and it was found that in the actual intended use the tissues effectively cleaned fecal matter from the anal region without removing excess moisture from the skin while leaving a thin emollient film on the cleaned area. The impregnated tissues were found by the users to be much softer than unimpregnated tissue and caused no noticeable irritation in use.

Another supply of two-ply facial tissues was impregnated as above with the same oil dispersion except that 0.25 to 2.0% of an antiseptic-bacteriostatic agent, benzalkonium chloride, was added to provide additional protection. These tissues were similarly tested with beneficial results.

Bithionol; 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanalide; and hexachlorophene were also individually incorporated in separate trials as bacteriostatic agents and found to be effective as indicated previously.

Other samples of tissues were prepared in which the amount of oil was varied in amounts of 20% and 25% and 40% by Weight. While these tissues were also found to be usable, a level of about 35% by Weight appears to be best with the optimum range being from 25 to 35 Tissues containing more than 40% oil by weight were noticeably oily to the touch, and undesirable for that reason.

While the specific examples show only the use of twoply facial grade tissue as the preferred base paper, soft single ply stock may also be used as noted above.

It is understood that other equally beneficial antiseptics, bacteriostats, topical anaesthetics, odorants, coloring agents and the like may be blended into the oil to provide other desirable effects.

What is claimed is:

1. A sanitary impregnated tissue of improved softness especially adapted for proctological use comprising a base sheet of at least one ply of absorbent creped cellulosic tissue in the basis weight range of 7 to 11 pounds per 24 x 36 480 sheet ream, said tissue having completely dispersed therethrough from 25% to 35 by Weight of a pure pharmaceutical grade mineral oil of low viscosity, said mineral oil containing in the amount of 2% to 10% by weight of a non-toxic, non-allergenic emulsifier in the form of a fatty acid soap of an organic base selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine oleate, triisopropanol amine laurate, monoethyl amine stearate and diethanol amine palmitate, said tissue being characterized by the ability, when used as a wipe, to pick up, absorb, and hold fecal matter from the skin in wiped areas while transferring a thin film of said emulsifier-containing mineral oil thereto.

2. The impregnated tissue of claim 1 in which the mineral oil also contains from 0.25% to 2.0% by weight of a bacteriostatic agent selected from the group consisting of benzalkonium chloride; bithionol; 3,4,4-trichlorocarbanalide; and hexachlorophene.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 302,073 7/ 1884 Wheeler 167--84 1,913,631 6/1933 Graves 16758 2,114,370 4/ 1938 Bickenheuser 16758 2,495,066 1/1950 Jones 15208 2,702,780 2/1955 Lerner 16784 2,944,931 7/1960 Yang 162-179 2,999,265 9/1961 Duane et al. 15506 LEWIS GO'ITS, Primary Examiner.

FRANK CACCIAPAGLIA, JR., Examiner.

SHEP ROSE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SANITARY IMPREGNATED TISSUE OF IMPROVED SOFTNESS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PROCTOLOGICAL USE COMPRISING A BASE SHEET OF AT LEAST ONE PLY OF ABSORBENT CREPED CELLULOSIC TISSUE IN THE BASIS WEIGHT RANGE OF 7 TO 11 POUNDS PER 24 X 36 480 SHEET REAM, SAID TISSUE HAVING COMPLETELY DISPERSED THERETHROUGH FROM 25% TO 35% TO BY WEIGHT OF A PURE PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE MINERAL OIL OF LOW VISCOSITY, SAID MINERAL OIL CONTAINING IN THE AMOUNT OF 2% TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF A NON-TOXIC, NON-ALLERGENIC EMULSIFIER IN THE FORM OF A FATTY ACID SOAP OF AN ORGANIC BASE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TRIETHANOLAMINE OLEATE, TRIISOPROPANOL AMINE LAURATE, MONOETHYL AMINE STEARATE AND DIETHANOL AMINE PALMITATE, SAID TISSUE BEING CHARACTERIZED BY THE ABILITY, WHEN USED AS A WIPE, TO PICK UP, ABSORB, AND HOLD FECAL MATTER FROM THE SKIN IN WIPED AREAS WHILE TRANSFERRING A THIN FILM OF SAID EMULSIFIER-CONTAINING MINERAL OIL THERETO. 